There’s no better way to put a new adventure travel backpack to the test than packing it up, hitting the road and seeing how it handles a real adventure.
So, our pals Bri & Andrews took our Tasman Backpack across New Zealand’s South Island for a road trip filled with mountain trails, lakeside stops, camp setups, day hikes and nights spent under the stars.
From being thrown in the back of the car to carrying everything we needed for a day on the trail, this was a proper road test for our new waxed canvas travel backpack.
Built for the Road
Tasman was designed for the kind of travel we love most — the trips where plans change, roads get dusty and you’re never quite sure where you’ll end up for the night.
On the South Island, that meant packing for everything from quick roadside stops to full days exploring the mountains.
The Tasman waxed canvas backpack has that classic, hard-wearing feel we wanted in an adventure bag, while still being practical enough for everyday travel. It’s the kind of backpack that looks better the more places you take it.
Road Tripping New Zealand’s South Island
There’s something pretty special about a South Island road trip.
One minute you’re driving through open farmland, the next you’re winding alongside a turquoise lake with snow-capped mountains filling the horizon. It’s the kind of place that constantly gives you a reason to pull over, get out of the car and explore.
Tasman came along for all of it.
Packed in the car for the longer stretches, then loaded up whenever we headed out on foot, it quickly became our go-to outdoor travel backpack for the trip.
From Day Trips to Overnight Adventures
A good backpack for adventure travel needs to work across more than one kind of trip.
Some days, Tasman carried the essentials for a few hours exploring. Other days, we packed it up for longer hikes, picnics and overnight camping.
That versatility was exactly what we wanted when creating the Will & Bear Tasman Backpack — something you can grab for a weekend away, a camping trip or a day outside without needing a different bag for every adventure.
Camp Coffee Just Tastes Better
Some of the best moments of a road trip are the simple ones.
Finding somewhere beautiful to stop. Pulling out the camp gear. Making a coffee outside and taking a little longer than usual to drink it.
Tasman became part of that daily rhythm — holding the bits and pieces we wanted close by and coming with us from the car to camp and back again.
No rushing. No big plans. Just coffee, mountains and nowhere else we needed to be.
Putting Tasman to the Test
The real test came when we left the road behind.
Out on the trails, Tasman needed to carry what we needed while handling the realities of outdoor travel — being picked up, put down, packed, unpacked and carried from one adventure to the next.
That’s exactly what this canvas adventure backpack was made for.
Its waxed canvas construction gives it a timeless outdoor feel, while the design makes it just as at home on a mountain trail as it is packed for a weekend road trip.
An Adventure Travel Backpack Made to Go Places
After hiking, camping, road tripping and exploring our way across New Zealand’s South Island, Tasman had officially earned its place in the adventure kit.
Because the best travel gear shouldn’t be something you have to think too much about. Pack it, throw it in the car, carry it up the trail and let it collect a few stories along the way.
The Will & Bear Tasman Backpack was made for exactly that.
Whether your next trip takes you across New Zealand, around Australia or somewhere further from home, Tasman is an adventure travel backpack designed to come along for the ride.
